GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team outhit the Roos in Friday's contest but fell in a pitcher's duel 1-0 to Kansas City at Apollo Park.
The team's two aces went the distance in the contest and allowed a combined nine hits with UND holding a slight 5-4 edge.
Jackie Albrecht allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out three batters. Kansas City's Camryn Stickel tossed a five-hit shutout with four strikeouts.
After a pair of scoreless innings to begin the game, the Roos struck first in the top of third to take a 1-0 lead. Following a leadoff walk, the Roos used small ball to move their runner into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out to the right side of the infield. A single to center field from KC's No. 3 hitter brought in the first run. The Hawks escaped the inning without any further damage after
Katelyn Neumayer snagged a rocket line out down the first base line.
The Fighting Hawks threatened in the bottom of the first with a runner in scoring position after back-to-back hits from JoJo Rodriguez and
Izzy Haslett. However, the Roos struck out and forced a ground out in the next two UND at-bats to end the frame.
After a pair of hits from the Roos in the second, and runners on first and second, Albrecht worked her way out of the frame with a strikeout and a ground out back to herself. The Hawks managed just a pair of singles over the second to sixth inning, as KC's Stickel found her groove in the circle. After allowing the run in the third, Albrecht also settled in and allowed just two runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings.
Looking to rally with two outs in the bottom of the seventh,
Katelyn Neumayer laced a double down the right field line. However, with the tying run on second, Stickel forced a ground out to the second baseman to end the game.
The Fighting Hawks and Roos will play a doubleheader Saturday, after today's second game was postponed due to the weather.
Postgame Notes
How It Happened
3rd | KC | Lexy Smith singled to center field and scored Lauren Parker for the first run of the game
For more information on North Dakota softball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDsoftball.
